Reor vs Zettlr
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Reor | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,551 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2024 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Reor and Zettlr?
Reor
Reor is an open-source, private, local-first AI note-taking application. It automatically links related notes, runs AI models locally, and stores everything as plain Markdown files on your machine.
- Local AI models
- Automatic note linking
- Plain Markdown storage
- Semantic search
Zettlr
Zettlr is a desktop Markdown editor designed for academic writing and Zettelkasten note management, with citation support and internal linking. While desktop-first, it works on plain Markdown folders that can sync between machines.
- Zettelkasten linking
- Citation manager support
- Multi-format export
- Folder-based projects
Reor vs Zettlr: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Zettlr is actively maintained. Reor is written in JavaScript, while Zettlr is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Reor versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Zettlr is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while Reor arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Reor if…
- AI features without sending data away
- Notes stay as portable files
Watch out for
- AI features need more RAM
- Younger project
Choose Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is Reor or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. Zettlr has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Reor and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. Reor is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Reor and Zettlr with Docker?
Reor: check the project docs for container support. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Reor or Zettlr?
Zettlr has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.